Crypto-Analysis and Orang Pendek
Posted by: Nick Redfern on July 13th, 2012
Jon Downes of the Center for Fortean Zoology tells us:
“I had a long discussion with Lars Thomas earlier today. He has more news on the analysis of the hair samples brought back from Sumatra at the end of last year. They were split into several different groups, and although we have not heard yet from either Dr Todd Disotell in New York, or Professor Brian Sykes in Cambridge, we can now reveal that although the hair does appear to be primate, the Danish team were unable to sequence enough fragments of DNA to tell whether it is monkey, gibbon, orang utan or even human, let alone orang pendek. The hairs were just too badly degraded, and in Lars’ opinion there was nothing else that could be done with the samples that he was given. Let’s hope that the other two teams have better luck.
“In a related piece of news, Lars has been working on a scat sample preserved in alcohol sent to us by one of Richard’s Ukrainian colleague from the 2008 Russian expedition.
“Unfortunately, the DNA laboratories have closed for the summer and therefore attempts at DNA sequencing have not been done. However, Lars has extracted a number of hairs from the faecal mass, and we are able to confirm that they are from small rodents. Whatever produced the scat had been feeding on mice and other small mammals of that ilk. We will keep you informed of developments as we get them.”
About Nick Redfern
Punk music fan, Tennents Super and Carlsberg Special Brew beer fan, horror film fan, chocolate fan, like to wear black clothes, like to stay up late. Work as a writer.
I’m definitely a believer in the Orang Pendek and have always marveled at what it looks like and the vast amount of sightings. While it may be a type of ape, is there a possibility that the Orang Pendek could be a surviving population of Homo Floresiensis?
While this sounds interesting… ultimately we gotta have proof… otherwise its just talk.
Personally, I found Freeman’s book to be the best and most compelling book about a potential unknownn hominid that I’ve ever read.
And my hope is that scientists of the quality of Lars Thomas, Todd Disotell and Brian Sykes continue with their pursuit for truth.
Scientific methodology is difficult and slow, while speculations and opinions are fast and easy. And in the end, mostly inaccurate.